Expert Report on the scientific evidence for long-term biodiversity/ecosystem benefits of Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) within the NEAFC regulatory areas to assist NEAFC request to ICES

Update (02/10/25): Figure 2.1 and 3.1 replaced with higher quality maps

The North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) requested, in 2023, advice from ICES on Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs) in relation to long-term biodiversity/ecosystem benefits of NEAFC’s areas restricted to bottom fishing, on vulnerable marine ecosystem (VME) closed areas, and on the potential maximum depths of bottom fishing. To address that request, ICES held a workshop (WKECOVME) that compiled information on biodiversity attributes known to be present in the areas restricted to bottom fishing and in the VME closed areas, and established a comprehensive list of biodiversity attributes by area

As a follow up to the 2023 work NEAFC requested ICES to advice on whether the 2023 advice applies to specific areas within the NEAFC Regulatory Area.

In order to address the follow up request, ICES formed the Expert Group on the Scientific Evidence for Long-term Biodiversity/Ecosystem Benefits of Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures to compiled information on biodiversity attributes present or likely to be present in the specific areas defined by NEAFC.

Applying the approach used by WKECOVME, the Expert Group compiled information on biodiversity attributes present or likely to be present in the specific areas. All the specific areas were found to have multiple biodiversity attributes.